There was a time in Mumbai when travelling in local trains during peak hours was considered next to be impossible.
It was very difficult due the kind of crowds and the way people hang outside the trains just to make sure they reach their office or workplace or college on time. Well, this is the pre-coronavirus era.
Due to lockdown restrictions and government’s orders to stay at home and work from home, the crowd had reduced to a large extent in Mumbai local trains.
Now as we are in the unlocking phase, teachers and non-teaching school staff have been encouraged to use the local train services in Mumbai and its metropolitan areas, as per the recent announcement by the railway officials.
In a joint release, Western and Central Railways, have granted permission with immediate effect. Thus, one needs to make sure they carry their valid identity cards to enter the railway stations and also follow social distancing and other safety measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
So far, only essential services staff were allowed to travel in over 3,000 trains that were run daily in Mumbai.
By Sahana Iyer
